Driver coupler attachment



Oct. 14, 1952 K. R. LARSON DRIVER COUPLER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 5, 1946 l l I IHIH INVENTOR.

K NNETH R RSON.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 DRIVER COUPLER ATTACHMENT Kenneth R. Larson Des .Plaines, Ill. Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 633,444

Claims. (Cl. 192'-66) This invention relates to driver couplers and more particularly to power driver coupler attachments, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantages for other purposes.

It contemplates'more especially the provision of a simple and improved driver coupler -attachment that can be utilizedinsconjunctionwith portable or fixed machine tools such as drill presses, portable speed drills, and flexible shafts for the purpose of turning wrench sockets, screw drivers, and similar fastening'tools that cooperate with nuts, screw heads, and other conventional fasteners.

Numerous types of driver couplershave heretofore been proposed and-many of these, have been of the built-in type'which are self-contained in power instrumentalities. The present invention concerns itself with a dri ver coupler attachment that can be optionally'used in conjunction With standard ;machine toolssuch" as drill presses, portable'speed drivers and similar power instrumentalities to hasten'assembly and dismantling operations by tightening or loosening fasteners, such-as nuts,- screws, and the like, comprising the retainers of machine parts inassembled association.

Qne object of the present"invention-isto simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a'more simplified and effective driver "coupler of the cone-type principle which can be effectively used as an attachment in conjunction with machine tools serving as a driving'medium.

Still another object is-to provide a cone-type clutch attachment having friction elements of different material characteristicsto effectively clutch and de-clutch fastener turning instrumentalities. v I

A further object is to provide a=-plurality of cone-shaped elements of difierent frictional coefiicients as clutching and de-clutching elements between driver and driven elements.

A still further object is to provide a frustoconical casing with complemental elements with between to sustain a turning load.

shown in sections to clarify the illustrations trative' thereof.

teachings depending In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front view'inelevationofa device embodying tion. v r H I Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line-I -I I 'of Figure with the frictional elements n fdeclutchedrelation and without sufiicient frictional reaction there- Figure 3is a. bottom plan :view of shown in Figuresl and2;

'Figure 4' is a front view in elevation of atom} ponentdriven frictional 'element shown} in a s sembled association in l igure2.*- v

Figure 5 is a front fview in'selevatio bfif a modified embodiment of the j device} shown in Figure 1, parts thereof-being 'brokena "and the-device 'The structure selectedfor; illustration isf'not intended to serve'gas a'limitation upon the' jscope orteachingsof the invention, but is me're'ly illuse There may be "considerable variations and adaptations of all or'partoffthe upon" the dictatesof commercial 'practice, W F if The present embodiment comprises" a driving shank IOwhich is adapted to be engagedby n adjustable-chuck" of a'. machinetool. such? machine'drill press'orportaiblehigh speedf'd ll (not shown) for the purpose-of imparting rotation thereto. The shank I0 is provided fwith'an enlarged peripheral flange intermediate the ends thereof for the purpose of effecting the attachment of the driver shank l0" toia casing 12.

different frictional coefficients to serve as clutching and de-clutching elements respective-to providing relatively longitudinal displacement.

Still a further object is to provide a frustow conical driver casing with a, plurality of complemental elements possessing different relative frictional coefficients therewith to effectively clutch and de-clutch a driven element in a selfcontaining unit respective to prov'iding'relative axial displacement therebetween in one direction or another. g

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. I

'by resort to rivets or welding attachi g ext, pedients depending upon the dictates of, 05m;

mercial practice. The shank I'll haj's a'peripheral shoulder l3 formed integral therewith lbeneath the circular flange ll, andthe' shoulder liiijis appreciably smaller in "diameter thanfithe" flange II and somewhat" larger indiameterthan driver shank ID. The shoulder l 3 term nat a driver shank extension which, inthi stance, is of the same 'diameteras r ejshaiikit to serve as a pilot therefor. v

I The casing I2 is, in'this instancegiof fr conical configuration "to provide aniipper circular wall l5 which has an axial apert" for the reception of the shank shoulder 'l 3 t through and to receive the "circulaffiang over the end wall 15 for rigid, welded o 0t "r v I suitable attachment thereto for rotatio V e casing I2 with the driver shank 10. Th to} conical casing receives 'a complementaljan ulafr ring [1, in this instanceof ina'ple orfother terial, having an effective. frictional 3 coeffi I therewith toprovide an; ei; terior shape h eon which conforms to andlooselyfitsin th conical casing 12 andpermits slippagelw, damage to the coacting surfaces. It should. e

features of the presentfinvenagainst a peripheral shoulder 36 provided onthe boss extension 35" proximate to the lowenextremity thereof which merges withthe driven shank 30-. As in the previous embodiment,' tlie driven shank 30' has a spring impelledLball detent 32' for the frictional attachment of the turning implement such as a wrench socket or screw driver thereon. A simple, durable, and very effectiveclutching and de-clutching coupler attachment has; been provided for optional use in conjunction with machine'tools such asfdrfill presses," portable high speed drivers and ,tlie 1ike. f T

While I have illustrated and described spreferred embodiment of this invention, it must'be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. .1. therefore, do not wish to be limited'to the/precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifica ber journalled in said casing for operative fric-.

tional connection with said annular member.

2. In a self-contained driver attachment unit of the character described, the combination with a frusto-conical driver casing, of an annular member in said casing, said annular member being complemental to the frusto-conical interior of said casing for permitted frictional reaction therewith, said annular member having axial movement within said casing for normal inoperative gravity displacement therefrom and for frictional operative connection therewith responsive to downward displacement of said casing relative thereto, and a driven member journalled in said casing for operative frictional connection with said annular member.

3. In a self-contained driver attachment unit of the character described, the combination with a. driver casing, of a sectional member in said casing, said sectional member being complemental to the interior of said casing for permitted frictional reaction therewith, said sectional member having axial movement within said casing for normal inoperative gravity displacement therefrom and for frictional operative connection therewith responsive to downward displacement of said casing relative thereto, said sectional member comprising a pair of interfitting elements having different coefiicients of friction with each other and said casing, and a driven shaft fixed to one of said interfitting elements journalled in said casing for operative frictional connection through said sectional member.

of said interfitting elements jjournalled in 1 said 21 1 casing for operative frictional connection through jf s'aid sectionalflmember.

5. In 'a' s'elfco'ritain 1d driver. attachment .unit of the character described,the combination with a frfust'oconical driverI casing, of "a sectional member in said casing, said sectional member being complemental to 'thfeifrusto conical interior of said casing for, permitted frictional'rea'ction therewith,v said sectional. member having I axial movement within said' casing jfor'normal inoperative gravity displacement therefrom and for frictional operative connection therewith responsive to downward displacement of said casing relative thereto, said "sectional member comprising a pair of interfitting elements having different coeflicients offfriction with each other 'and,said casing, said interfitting elements havbeing 1 complemental toflthe frusto-conical interior of said casing forjp'e'rmitted frictional re- 4. In. a self-contained driver attachment unit of the character described, the combination with a frusto-conical driver casing, of a sectional member in said casing, said sectional member being complemental to the frusto-conical interior of said casing for permitted frictional reaction therewith, said sectional member having mg relative'axial movement with each' other and said'cas'ing, and adriven shaft fixed to one of said interfitting, elements journalledl in said casing"v for operative frictional. connection. through said casing through said sectional membenf '6. In a selfcontained driver, attachment unit ofthe character described, the combinationlwith aj 'frusto-cohical drive asing, of a sectional member in said casing, said se'ctional member action therewith, saidffsectional, member, having axial movement within' sa'id casing ,for normal inoperative gravity displacement therefrom and for frictional operative connection therewith responsive to downward displacement of said casing relative thereto, said sectional member comprising a pair of interfitting elements having different coefficients of friction with each other and said casing, said interfitting elements having relative axial movement with each other and said casing, frusto-conical exterior peripheral surfaces of different relative angularity on said interfitting members, and a driven shaft fixed to one of said interfitting elements journalled in said casing for operative connection with said casing for operative frictional connection through said sectional member.

7. In a self-contained driver attachment unit of the character described, the combination with prising a pair of interfitting elements havin different coemcients of friction with each other and said casing, said interfitting elements having relative axial movement with each other and said casing, frusto-conical exterior peripheral surfaces of different relative angularity on said interfitting members, the exterior peripheral angularity of the outer interfitting element conforming to the interior of said casing to render bot o aid iriterflttins mem r c mn exnsnt theretoasja'unit, and a driven shaft fixed to one of said interfitting elements journalled in said casing for operative frictional -connection through said sectional member. a

In a self-:containeddriveriattachment'unit of the character mentioned,.the combinationrvwith a 'frusto-conicalgcasing, of a driver shaft axial extending from the smaller end of said jfrustoconical casing, an annular frusto conical friction element loosely fitted in sai d casing for axialdisq placement relative. thereto to efiect or ,preclude i o l n semen th r wi h. dri eni u c ic "m er-lcomn eme ta t aid fi s 'nam friction elementiior .j'axial displacement relative thereto "to 'efiect or preclude frictionalienga fi- :ment therewith, and a driven shaft "axial fixed to said last named .driven 'frusto-econical memher to rotatein unisonwith saidcasing responsive to the axialurge of 1 said-driver shafttoward said driven shaft.

'9. In a self-contained driver attachmentunit of the character mentionedithe combination with a frusto-conical casinaof a driver shaftaxialgextending from the smaller end ofsaid'frusto-conical casing; an annular"frusto-yconicalfriction elementloosely fitted in said casing for axial displacement relative thereto'to effector preclude frictional en gement therewith; a drivenfrustoconical membercomplemental tosaid'first named :friction element for axial displacement relative thereto to efiect or'precllldeifrictional engagement therewith, saidfrusto-conical friction element and driven member having different c0- efilcients of vfriction, and :a 'drivenshaft axial fixed to said" last named driven .frusto-conical member to rotate in unison with, said casing responsive to the axial urge of said driver gshaft toward said drivenshaft.

. 10. In a self-contained'driverattachment unit of the character mentioned, the-combinationwith a 'frusto-conical casing, of a driver shaft axial extending from the-smaller endof said frustoconical casing, an'annular frusto-conical fricton element loosely fitted in'said casing for axial displacement relative thereto to effect or preclude frictional engagement therewith, a driven frustoconical member complemental to said first named jfriction "element for axial displacement relative thereto to effect orprecludefrictional engagement therewith, said frusto-conical friction-element and driven member having different coefiicientsof friction, the conicalness'of said casing and friction element being different thanthe conical'ness of said friction element and driven .element, and a driven shaft axial fixed 'tosaid last named driven frusto-conical member to rotateinunison with said casing responsive to the axial urge of saiddrivr shaft toward said driven v shaft. 1

KENNETH R. LARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,44? France --1Mar.5,11921 

